Vittoriosa S. 1

Sliema W. 2

Vittoriosa S: S. Agius, K. Sammut, M. Maccari (A. Ewurum), J. Chetcuti, L. Edison, J. Silva, S. Wellman, L. Grech (C. Micallef), J. Xerri, A. Tabone (M. Brincat), C. Compagnoli

Sliema W: H. Bonello, J. Mifsud, J.P. Mifsud Triganza, S. Bezzina (E. Barbara), C. Gatt Baldacchino, J. Lima, C. Lackhim, R. Bajada, J. Mintoff (N. Turner), B. Musact (O. Obiefule), C. Failla

Referee: C. Lautier asst.refs: W. Debattista, T. Debono 4th official: M. Apap

Scorers: J. Mifsud 53 og, J.P. Mifsud Triganza 71, 89

Yellow cards: R. Bajada, A. Tabone, S. Wellman, L. Edison

Red card: R. Bajada

Player of the match: J.P. Mifsud Trignza (Sliema W)

TMI top 3: 1. J.P. Mifsud Triganza 2. C. Compagnoli 3. C. Failla

Although playing with a man down for almost an hour, Sliema Wanderers turned defeat into a win, after trailing Vittoriosa through a Josef Mifsud own goal, as they improved considerably after Etienne Barbara’s inclusion. Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza scored a brace but his last-minute winner came after Lackhim controlled the ball with his hand when receiving the cross inside the area. The referee and his assistant saw no wrong however and the goal stood. Sliema are now mathematically safe as Vittoriosa plod closer to their ill-fate.

Not for the first time this season, Vittoriosa failed to take advantage of their numerical superiority and despite putting in a lot of effort, they were left with nothing to show at the end.

Mark Scerri and Etienne Barbara failed to make it in Sliema’s first eleven due to injury. The former was not even included in the squad while the latter went in as a substitute in the second half and gave a valid contribution to his side’s success. John Mintoff was given a start after a long absence, with Jackson Lima playing in front of the defence.

Vittoriosa were buoyed by the return of Leighton Grech but Ryan Grech was absent. Karl Sammut started instead of Clayton Micallef in defence.

Play was rather chaotic for the first 45 minutes. Sliema struggled to knit more than two passes together and both Mifsud Triganza and Lackhem were starved of service up front.

The distribution and workrate of Compagnoli and Maccari eclipsed their opponents in midfield. Compagnoli was the first to test keeper Bonello, again in the Sliema goal, with a curling free kick.

With Leighton Grech often caught off the pace, Vittoriosa’s hopes rested on Luis Edison, who had to weather a couple of tough challenges from Gatt Baldacchino and Mifsud.

But the only noteworthy episode of a mundane first half was the dismissal of Sliema’s midfielder Roderick Bajada after 37 minutes for two bookings, which tended to give Vittoriosa slightly the edge towards half time, as the Wanderers lost their shape. Tabone played a through ball to Edison but the Brazilian lost his co-ordination as he was faced with the onrushing keeper Bonello.

Vittoriosa took the lead eight minutes inside an eventful second half, although in a fortuitous manner. Grech’s cross from the edge of the area on the left took a wicked deflection off defender Josef Mifsud and deceived the Sliema keeper.

Short of the hour, Sliema put in Etienne Barbara for Bezzina and were a completely transformed side. Suddenly things brightened up for them.

They forced several corners, with Lima’s inswinging flag kick causing the biggest threat.

On 71 minutes Barbara played the ball wide to other substitute Turner, who crossed low for Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza to shoot past the grounded keeper Agius.

Unable to exploit their numerical superiority, Vittoriosa were forced to absorb Sliema’s sustained pressure. Barbara’s fierce drive on 76 minutes was turned into a corner by keeper Agius.

Vittoriosa put in Ewurum while Sliema included Obiefule as both teams tried to take maximum points.

Sliema remained more potent going forward though. Obiefule played a perfect pass to Lackhim, who shot tantalisingly off target.

With one minute remaining, Sliema scored their winner, again through danger man Mifsud Triganza, who capitalized on the referee’s and his assistant’s incapability to see Lackhim’s hands.

Obiefule nearly atoned for that with another goal in the dying minutes, but was denied by the bar, holding out his drilling shot. Although that deserved a better fate, another goal would have been injustice for Vittoriosa.